NORMALLY HELD IN NORTH QUAD WERE CANCELLED TODAY AND NO ONE HURT. AND WELL, WE HAVE MAJOR CHANGES COMING TO THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN DETROIT. THIS IS PRETTY EXCITING. JUST DOWNTOWN STREET. ALL AROUND US. ALL PART OF DAN GILBERT'S PLAN FOR A LIVELY DOWNTOWN CENTERED ON CAMPUS MARSH'S PARK. THEY ANNOUNCED RETAIL, RESTAURANTS, EXPANDED SIDEWALKS, FOR OPEN AIR CAFES TO SET UP SHOP. THIS IS NOT JUST HIS DREAM ON A DRAWING BOARD. IT HAS BEEN APPROVED. AND CONSTRUCTION BEGINS THIS SUMMER. OUR LIGHT BULB WENT OUT FOR US WITH WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A GROUP WE PUT TOGETHER. IT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST ENLIGHTENING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE. LISTENING AND HAVING THEM SHOW YOU OVER AND OVER THESE OTHER CITIES, NOT JUST U.S., BUT WORLDWIDE. THESE KINDS OF THINGS YOU CAN DO. IT DOESN'T TAKE NECESSARILY BUILDING BRAND NEW SKY SCRAPERS OR BILLONS OF HOURS TO DO IT. THIS IS STUFF IN THE RELATIVE SENSE OF THINGS IS HAPPENING. THE OTHER MAJOR NEWS FROM TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT. ANOTHER GROCERY IN DOWNTOWN. AND PAPPA JOE'S OPENS UP SHOP AS PART OF THE PROJECT. 15,000 SQUARE FOOT STORE. THAT WILL ALSO INCLUDE A FULL BAR. AND OFFER DELIVERY TO PLACES AROUND DOWNTOWN. WHAT A DAY. SOUNDS GOOD. IT DOES. FOR MANY DETROITERS EXCITING DOES NOT BEGIN TO DESCRIBE WHAT DAN GILBERT HAS PLANNED. WE WERE WAITING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR A LONG TIME. WILL THE DREAM DELIVER? OUR BISI ONILE-ERE HAS BEEN GETTING THE PULSE OF THE PEOPLE. IT SEEMS EVERYBODY IS HOPEFUL BISI AND EXCITED? CARMEN, EXCITED AND OPTIMISTIC ARE TWO WORDS BEST TO DESCRIBE THE BUZZ AROUND HERE IN DOWNTOWN DETROIT. THERE ARE BIG NAMES BEHIND THE PROJECT. AND WITH IT, COMES BIG EXPECTATIONS. THEY ARE IMAGES OF A MORE VIBRANT LIVELY DOWNTOWN DETROIT. IDEAS PUT TO PAPER THAT WILL SOON BECOME REALITY. AND THURSDAY, CIVIC AND BUSINESS LEADERS UNVEILED BIG PLANS FOR THE WOODWARD CORRIDOR. AND THOSE THAT LIVE AND DO BUSINESS HERE ARE ECSTATIC. I THINK IT IS AWESOME. NEW SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, PAPPA JOE'S GOURMET MARKET NEAR CAMPUS MARSH IS IN THE WORKS. THEY WILL HAVE SIX STANDOUT DESTINATIONS, THAT DRIVE PEOPLE HERE AND KEEP THEM COMING BACK. THIS AREA NEAR HARMONY PARK IS ONE UP FOR REVITALIZATION. FOR ME, PERSONALLY, I THINK IT IS A WONDERFUL THING. AS A BUSINESS OWNER HERE IN DETROIT. AND IN THE MIDDLE OF PARADISE VALLEY, IT IS AMAZING. OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE SEEN AND FELT THE PROGRESS AROUND THEM. AND IT IS ONLY GETTING BETTER. WE HAVE A MOMENTUM GOING. AND TO BUILD ON THAT, AND TO PUSH SO MUCH MORE INTO THAT, TO MAKE IT GO FURTHER, AND FASTER. THAT'S JUST FABULOUS. WHAT IS IN JUST REBIRTH OF THE DETROIT, RIGHT HERE. PARADISE VALLEY. AND I AM TOLD THAT MORE RESIDENTIAL SPACE IS COMING HERE TO DOWN DETROIT. WATER PARK FOR KIDS. AND ANOTHER THING. AND REDESIGN HEART PLAZA. SO CLEARLY THIS IS ALL JUST THE BEGINNING. BACK TO YOU ON. BOY, IT IS CERTAINLY SOUNDS GOOD. AND ON A FAST-TRACK.

DETROIT -

They are images of a more vibrant and lively downtown Detroit. Ideas put to paper that will soon become reality.

On Thursday, civic and business leaders unveiled big plans for the Woodward Corridor. Those who live and do business in the area are ecstatic.

Quick Clicks

New shops, restaurants and a Papa Joe's Gourmet Market located near Campus Martius are in the works. The plan centers on creating six standout destinations that drive people to the area and keep them coming back.

The area near Harmonie Plaza is among those up for revitalization.

"For me, personally, I think it's a wonderful thing. As a business owner right here in Detroit, in the middle of Paradise Valley, I think it's amazing," said Kenny Akinwale, of Detroit Seafood Market.

During the past couple of years, these business owners have seen and felt the progress around them.

"We have a momentum going, and to build on that and to push so much more into that to make it go further and faster, that's just fabulous," said Richardson.

Akinwale says it's a rebirth of the city.

"We're seeing the rebirth of Detroit right here in Paradise Valley," he said.

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